Making an offer without offending

ari101

Hey,

Looking to buy a car and want to make a dealer a reasonable offer while still getting value for money. I know margins are tight and I want to be taken seriously but pay as little as possible (I'm broke too ;-) ), so was wondering if anyone can advise...

I'm female so to prevent being taken advantage of I got advice on what to check out when I look at the car. Assuming I'm happy with it, the car is a ford focus on the market for just under 12,000 (which seems comparable if maybe a little lower (500 or so) than others I've seen of same age/spec). Any suggestions of an opening offer and what you think I could realise? e.g. 10,500 with a view to paying 11,000 etc.

Thanks in advance!

Nonoperational

I wouldn't see any issue at all with offering 10,500 cash on a car priced at €12k. A Focus for that money probably won't have much up with it. Check the usual like service history and take it for a good spin. If your looking for specific things to check post more details on the model and engine etc and someone might be able to be more helpful...

ari101

ari101 wrote: »

Assuming I'm happy with it, the car is a ford focus on the market for just under 12,000 .............................................................. e.g. 10,500 with a view to paying 11,000 etc.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, just keep in mind you'll be dealing with a professional salesman, ideally it's priced at €12,000 you offer €10,500 he then says €11,500 and ye settle on €11,000

In reality you'll offer €10,500 and he may say a flat no that the car is priced to sell but he'll knock off €150 for you or something like that. Time to walk away then and find another Focus unless you feel like paying €11,500+ for it.

I would suggest you practise some haggling on cars that you have no intention of buying off other dealers to get your feet wet a bit

Also at a minimum get a finance check on the car and have it checked out too, is it from a main dealer or a 2nd hand car dude?

Fishtits

OP, with the greatest respect it sounds like you know sod all regarding a car & mechanics etc... like the vast majority of buyers.

The Focus is a mechanics favorite, its as bullet proof as they come in that class, there have been wiring issues but nothing serious. In a nutshell its the best car in its class. Bar none. (anyone with otherwise ideas send me a PM...)

But, get a mechanic to check it out before you buy.

ari101

RoverJames wrote: »

Hi, just keep in mind you'll be dealing with a professional salesman, ideally it's priced at €12,000 you offer €10,500 he then says €11,500 and ye settle on €11,000

In reality you'll offer €10,500 and he may say a flat no that the car is priced to sell but he'll knock off €150 for you or something like that. Time to walk away then and find another Focus unless you feel like paying €11,500+ for it.

Fishtits wrote: »

OP, with the greatest respect it sounds like you know sod all regarding a car & mechanics etc... like the vast majority of buyers.

The Focus is a mechanics favorite, its as bullet proof as they come in that class, there have been wiring issues but nothing serious. In a nutshell its the best car in its class. Bar none. (anyone with otherwise ideas send me a PM...)

But, get a mechanic to check it out before you buy.

Am in the market for the focus on the advice of my mechanic due to its solid rep in the class I'm looking at :-) but the one I'm looking at is too far to get him to check it out hence my finding out what to look at.
It's a secondhand only dealer - google revealed no bad reports but no good either in relation to others' experiences having bought there, but the place is well established.
It's a cash sale so if I cant get it down a bit I'll walk - I have a car that will last me a few more months.

Fishtitis: I'll happily admit that I don't know much re buy and sell but I do know more than most girls about the workings of an engine (not that that would be hard ;-))

Realistically if you need to ask what to look for when checking out a 10 grand plus car you really should be getting it checked out by a professional. The dealer could be selling a car with issues without even knowing it.